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Topic: H3 development update thread (Read 83539 times)

It seems that Japanese media is reporting a target cost of 50 billion yen (~$41M US) for the baseline version - if so that's a little bit higher than what I think for the (similar performance) basic F9R....but not by much. If they really can hit that target the Japanese might actually have some chance of getting a foothold in the market for the very first time.

Announcement of the Official Naming of the Next Generation Launch Vehicle

The National Research and Development Agency, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is proud to announce the official naming of the Next Generation Launch Vehicle currently under development as follows. The name was decided in coordination with the prime contractor (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.) We will continue to develop the Next Generation Launch Vehicle in order to achieve flexible and diversified demands.

Name: H3 Launch Vehicle (Abbreviation: H3)The major reasons for the selection is as follows:

Announcement of the Official Naming of the Next Generation Launch Vehicle

The National Research and Development Agency, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is proud to announce the official naming of the Next Generation Launch Vehicle currently under development as follows. The name was decided in coordination with the prime contractor (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.) We will continue to develop the Next Generation Launch Vehicle in order to achieve flexible and diversified demands.

Name: H3 Launch Vehicle (Abbreviation: H3)The major reasons for the selection is as follows:

In other news, it looks like they have settled on 1 140 kN thrust engine on the upper stage - which according to Japanese reports would be an upgrade of the existing LE-5B rather than a new engine.

The first stage will have either 2 or 3 new 1.5 MN class engines (LE-9) - I guess it will be 2 on the GTO bound versions with SRBs and 3 on the baseline SSO version? The SRBs will have an average thrust of 2.2 MN.

It seems that Japanese media is reporting a target cost of 50 billion yen (~$41M US) for the baseline version - if so that's a little bit higher than what I think for the (similar performance) basic F9R....but not by much. If they really can hit that target the Japanese might actually have some chance of getting a foothold in the market for the very first time.

OK it's 5B yen not 50, but the target cost is holding. It won't be a game changer, but $40M US for a 4+t SSO launcher might be able to sink the Ariane 62, Vega-E and Antares 200.....

Announcement of the Official Naming of the Next Generation Launch Vehicle

The National Research and Development Agency, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is proud to announce the official naming of the Next Generation Launch Vehicle currently under development as follows. The name was decided in coordination with the prime contractor (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.) We will continue to develop the Next Generation Launch Vehicle in order to achieve flexible and diversified demands.

Name: H3 Launch Vehicle (Abbreviation: H3)The major reasons for the selection is as follows:

In other news, it looks like they have settled on 1 140 kN thrust engine on the upper stage - which according to Japanese reports would be an upgrade of the existing LE-5B rather than a new engine.

The first stage will have either 2 or 3 new 1.5 MN class engines (LE-9) - I guess it will be 2 on the GTO bound versions with SRBs and 3 on the baseline SSO version? The SRBs will have an average thrust of 2.2 MN.

It seems that Japanese media is reporting a target cost of 50 billion yen (~$41M US) for the baseline version - if so that's a little bit higher than what I think for the (similar performance) basic F9R....but not by much. If they really can hit that target the Japanese might actually have some chance of getting a foothold in the market for the very first time.

OK it's 5B yen not 50, but the target cost is holding. It won't be a game changer, but $40M US for a 4+t SSO launcher might be able to sink the Ariane 62, Vega-E and Antares 200.....

Yes, it is an upgraded LE-5B, which has potential to get new designation LE-5C upon project completion because of enhancements and next gen design for additive manufacturing. The upgraded engine will be replaced with a new engine as part of a future upgrade package, which may become H-IIIA. This replacement is not planned till a minimum of a decade from now.

That was good press conference.LE-9 thrust is more than 10 times bigger than LE-5B, how develop the such large scale leap ? (LE-9 thrust is 150 metric tons, LE-5B 14 tons)The point is ｌonger thrust chamber that collect more heat from chamber wall (LE-5B, LE-9 are Expander breed cycle engine).

SRB-A is almost newly developed. Visual appearance is same, but another one.

Impressive looking hardware and concepts! I wish I could read Japanese. Anyone catch the performance to Low Earth Orbit for the 4x SRB version - both 28.5 degree or other low-inclinations and 50+plus degree orbits?

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The LE-9 would be by far the highest thrust expander cycle engine ever developed, using a "bleed" or open cycle rather than a closed cycle turbopump system. Getting that much thrust out of an expander cycle turbopump is a challenge: the specific impulse is lower as a result of the open cycle, but it's still pretty good. I wonder what the T/W ratio is?